Collapsible tent



P. W. HARRIS COLLAPSIBLE TENT Aug. l, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 17, 1946 VQ INVENTOR.,l

ip HorfLf B11 ATTORNEY i. lthllllnnnu I Il l l P. W. HARRS COLLAPSIBLE TENT Aug. l, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. blp WHorrL/ /TTORNEY Filed June 17, 1946 P. W. HARRIS COLLAPSIBLE TENT Aug. 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 17, 1946 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,516,869 ooLLAPsIBLETENT Philip W. Harris, New Yerkm. Y.. Application June 17, 1946, SerialNo 677,150` 12 claims. 'lomasii (Granted under the act o f `March 3', 1883,` as

The invention` described herein, irpatented,

necessary to ,shift` camp sites rapidly and erhciently. It istherefore a, major object of this invention to provide a collapsible tent which is simple, stable., efficient, comparatively light, and which maybeiset up or made portable in a minimum period of time. i

Itlisfanother obj ectlof this invention to provide an improvedI tent having a flexible rib structure w-hichy may be quickly erected in the field to provide afrigid-` frame for the tent and without the useof poles.

` A further object of this invention is to provide a` collapsible tent having transverse and longi- `un` and readily dismantled for portability is recp `og-nized, especially for military use where it is tudinal ribs provided with hinges to enable the` tent to be collapsed and folded at the hinges to provide a compact portable pack. i

Still another object of this invention is to provide acollapsible-tent having arched ribs, each `of graduated lengths so that when the tent is collapsed the members may be successively folded at the hinges, commencing with the shortest member, to provide a compact package of substantially a cross-sectional rectangular form with a hollow interior, and which hollow interior may be used for storage purposes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a collapsible tent having a frame structure made up of short members hinged together and provided with a covering permanently fastened thereto, and in which cords are fastened to the covering in such manner that by merely pulling on the cords, the frame structure and covering 1 will erect from a collapsed condition and thus the tentwill beset up practically by a single stroke. Itis still a further object of this invention to provide a collapsible tent having hinged rib `rib being made `up of members permanentlyo `hinged together and in which the members are structure in which stops are associated with the hinges to limit pivotal movement of the rib members in one direction to form arches during erection and, to permit free pivotal movement of the rib members in the opposite direction to permit lacing openings,

amended April 30, 19218; 370Y 0i Gr. '757)` the tent iiooring for anchoring purposes, thus eliminating the need for anchor stakes driven into the ground.

A further objectl of the invention is to provide `in a tenta flexible sheet, forming atent wall or nap, and in which the flexible sheet is provided with expeditious means for quickly loosening and raising the flexible sheet to provide an opening in the tent.

Other objects and advantages of the present `invention will appear in` the following detailed description andiparticularly will be pointed out` the appended claims, reference being had to theY accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and` in which:

Fig. 1 isa perspective View of the collapsible tent of this invention;`

Fig, `2 is` atransverse sectional View of the interior of the collapsible tent and showing the front, wall;

Fig'. 3 is aA transversesectional view of the interior of the tent and showing the partly raised .rearV wall;

Fig. 4 is: a plan viewof the tent in collapsed "conditionwith the front and rear walls in loosened and extended condition;

Fig. 5'` is anexploded perspective view ofthe tent showing the ribbed `frame structure, the

iiooring, and) a portion of the covering;

Fig; Gis' a plan view of the partially folded tent showing the appearance after folding. in a longitudinal direction;`

Fig; l is a plan View ofthe tent in the process ofkbeing` folded transversely after the longitudinal folds have been completed;

Fig. 8` is a perspective view of the tent pack, completely iolcled,` and showing the flooring in the hollow interior;

Fig. 9 is. a fragmentary detail of the hinged structureof one ofthe transverse ribs;

Fig. 1D is a, diagrammatic view of a transverse rib in collapsed condition and showing a modied spacing for the hinges; l

Fig. 1`1 is` a diagrammatic view of the transverse rib of Fig. 10 in folded condition as it would appear in @pack and showing the square crosssectional form when folded; and

Fig.. 12` is a] fragmentary perspective detail showing4 the use of flaps or tabs for covering the Referring to the drawings, reference numeral I denotes the covering material, of canvas or other suitable material, -which constitutes the roof and sides of the tent, and which covering is permanently fastened to the frame structure, denoted generally by the reference numeral 2, and clearly shown in Fig. 5. The frame structure is made up of a pair of transverse ribs 3 and i and a pair of longitudinal ribs 5 and 3 interconnecting the ends of the transverse ribs. As shown in Fig. 5, the longitudinal ribs5 and B are each provided with two hinges l, intermediate its ends, providing for a pair of short rib sections or members 8 and a long rib section or member 9 connected to constitute a continuous longitudinal rib. The transverse ribs 3 and i are each similarly provided with a plurality of flap hinges I0, thus providing for a plurality of transverse rib sections or members li., i2, I3, ld, I5, i5, I1, and. i3 connected to constitute a continuous transverse rib. The vend rib members II and I8 are suitably rigidly xed .to the endrib'members 8 of the longitudinal ribs. 'The ribsare preferably made of metal but wood ,or` any other suitable material may be used within the scope of this invention. As indicated lin'Fig. 9, the transverse rib members `I l throughv I 3, inclusive, are slightly arched and their endsare slightly beveled as at i9 so that when thev members abut, the ends I9 become stops so lthatthe rib "members form a4-ry` continuous rib or archv formation as shown in Fig. 5. However, itl is within the spirit of the invention to have the members II to I8, inclusive, perfectly straight. Though the arch formed Y by a series of straight members will be somewhat imperfect, since the members are'short` as compared with the total-length of the transverse rib, the arch will be suflicient for all-'intents and purposes. As clearly shown `in Fig.c5, the members i I through i8, inclusive, are of -graduated lengths,"

for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Thus,

Vas evident from this description and the showing 1in Fig. 5, the transverse rib members I I to I8 may be pivoted downwardly about the hinges I0 untill stopped by the stopsl .IIS to assume the erected" arched position as illustrated... Likewise, it is evident that, if permitted, the ribs 3, 4,.5,.and 6 will collapse under. their own v,weight and the weight of the tent covering Iyto assume a at,.

planar position of rectangular form in which ribs 3 and 4 constitute thesides of the rectangle and the ribs 5and t constitute the ends of the rectangle. It is also evident that from this collapsed position, thelongitudinal rib members 8A, may be folded downY on the rib member 9 by means of the hinges'l' to produce longitudinal folds, and then the transverse rib members II to I8, inclusive, maybe successively folded about the hinges lil to produce transverse folds so that,

an extremely compact package yfor portability will result. The length of each rib member and the number oi members in 'each rib may be modied. For larger tents, more and/or longerv members may be utilized, andfor smaller tents, fewer` and/or shorter members may'be utilized.

As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the covering material is permanently fastened to the ribs 3 to 6, inclusive, by having the forward and rear edges 9 and 25 and the side edges 2l and 22 of the tent,

4 stitched thereto a strip of material 23 projecting downwardly and provided with spaced openings ior a purpose to be described hereinafter.

rhe iront wall of the tent comprises a ilexible sheet 25 of canvas, or other suitable material, out to a substantially semi-circular formation to close up the open forward end of the tent. The upper periphery of the front wall 25 is provided with spaced openings 2e for alignment with the openings li i'cr lacing the Wall 25 to the strip 23 by means of lacing 2l. As shown in Fig. 1, when the ent is erected, the lacing 2 extends around the uper periphery of the front wall and with its free ends passing through the loop straps 28 and 29 secured to the bottom of the front wall 25. The free ends of the lacing 2l are tied together, as at 3"-3, to prevent accidental unlacing. Intermediate the free ends of the lacing 2l there is provided a release cord 3|, to be described hereinafter, fired to the lacing at 3JI as shown in Fig. 5, and having its free end fastened to or guided through the loop strap 32. The front wall 25 is provided with a door nap 33 secured on oney or two sides in any suitable manner, as by stitching, and held in lclosed position by means of tie strings 34.` On the interior, adjacent the upper end 0f the front wall, there are fixed a pair of pulleys 35 for apurpose to be described hereinafter. The rear wall is constructed and secured as the front wall except that the door flap 33 may be omitted. To reinforce the corners of. the tent covering I, corner gussets 35 may be provided.

As shown in Fig. 5, the tent may. be provided with a floor construction consisting ofk a number of sections or panels 3l placed side by side to form a row, and two such rows are illustrated. The number of sections or panels .in each row and the number oi rows shown in Fig. 5 aremerely representative, and are in no way 4to be considered as limiting the invention. The oor panels :l'i are each provided withH one or more joists 38, providing for a raised floor `construction. As shown, each floor panel 3'I is ofl greater length than its joist 38, providing for overlaps at the ends, as at 39. These overlaps provide three transverse channels under the ooring, at the front, center, and rear, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.`

The covering i, asl clearly shown in Fig. 5, lis provided with the cords 4t, 4I, and 42, each having one end suitably secured to the side edge 22 of the covering at points 43, 44, and 45, respectively. The free ends of the cords 40, 4I, and 42 adaptedfor vpassing through the openings 46, lil, and 4S, respectively, in the slide edge 2| of the covering i. The longitudinal rib 5 is provided with openings'll,y 50, and 5I in alignment, respectively, withthe'openings 46, 41, and 48 so that the free ends of the cords 40, 4I, and 42 are adapted to pass also-through the nib 5. "The free ends oi' the cords 40 and 4I are preferably each provided with a stop element 52, tied to the free end, to prevent the free end of the cord from being pulled through the respective openings 46 and tl. A large knot in the free end of each of cords it and lil may be utilized instead as a stop element.

In assembling the tent, assuming the parts are in the collapsed position shown v'in Fig. 4, it is merely necessary for the operator/to grasp the free ends of the cords 40 and 4I, and While holding the side edge 2| of the tent, to pullo'n the free ends of rthe cords( f This action will bow'the transverse ribs 3 and 4 upwardly while the `far side edge 22"of the't'ntis drawn towards Athe 'side edge Twomen can pullont the cords 40 and 4l simultaneously to arch both the front nib 3 and-l rear ribd, or one man can successively erect the iront andrear archtby pulling on one cord after the other. After the ribs3 and 4 have been arched sufficiently, as indicated by a red mark, whichmay be placed on each cord, appearing through the openings `it and 41, the `flooring, it used, may be positioned within the tent with the front and rear overlaps 39 being placed over the cords il and Ml extending onthe ground. While the ooring is-being setin position, the free ends of the cords 4511 and it may be temporarily fastened to.` thel loop straps 53 and 54, respectively, to l maintain the arch. In placing the neming, care should betaken to have the center overlap.. 39'y between the two rows of iiooring, positioned over the center cord 42. Then with the flooring in place, continued pulling of the cords dit and 4l will draw the longitudinal` nib members 5- and 6 against the sides of the flooring iin a vice-like manner, thus producing a rigid structure. When iiooring is not used, the cords d and l may be pulled initially' to arch the ribs toinal position. In nal position, the free ends of the cordstill` and 4I may be secured to the loop straps 53 and 5d, fastenedi on the side of the tent. The center cord d2, having its free end passing throught opening 48, drawn tight `and its free end is secured to the loop strap 55, clearly shown in Fig. l. It can be seen from this structure that when flooring is used, the cords 4U, 4I, and 42 passing under the overlaps 39` of the flooring provide an anchor means for the tent whereby the tent is securely anchored to the ooring Withont the need of stakes or other securing means fastened or driven into the ground. l Thus, the condition oi the ground will not aiect the tent of this invention, and the tent may be erected on hard ground, such as coral, or on loose sand, and` still be anchored securely. The arched ribs of this` invention provide alsturdy upright construction and no poles are necessary to mainthe cord 21 to be pulled through the openings 2li and 26 and the free ends of the lacing 21 will be completely freed from the lowermost openings 2li and 26, as shown in Fig. 4. The number of openingsto be` freed will depend on the kspacing ci the openings but a suiiicient number should be freed to enable the walls to be stretched flat, as described hereinafter. After the iront and rear walls have been loosened in this manner, it is merely necessary to -untie the free ends of the cords 4.0,. di, and i2 and under the weight of the tent, the structure will collapse as the arched ribs straighten as indicated in Fig. 4. By holding on to the free ends of the cords 40 and M, the c01- lapsing may be regulated so as to be gradual. When iiooring is used, the tent should first be partially collapsed until the red marks on the cords i0 and dl reach the openings 46 and 41, and then with the free ends of the cords 40 and 4| temporarily tied to the loop straps 53 and 54, the iiooring may be removed. Then after Completely collapsing, the front and rear walls sho-uld be eX- tended into a flat form with the lacing 21 loose, as shown in Fig. 4. From the position of Fig. 4, the iront and rear walls then should be folded under the tent, as indicated by dotted. lines in Figzfi. The.` transverse ribs 3 and 4, that.i$,.th irontvand rear edges I9 `and 20 of the tent, then should `beV lifted and pivoted in a longitudinal .direction about the hinges l. so that the tent `assumes thesemi-folded position shown in Fig. 6.

Then thevsemii-folded tent is inverted and rolled a transverse direction, as indicated in Fig. '1, by starting with the rib member ll and folding leach` rib member from H to I8, inclusive, successiwiely190 toA produce a box like pack as shown in Fign... .Thefront and rear :cords lill and 4l are: rolled in the pack during this step but the .centercolrd isi. kept free.. The center cord 42 then all.

order to provide for a tent pack having a substantially square cross-section, it `is merely necessary tochan'ge` the dimensions of the graduated members it to i3., inclusive, and this is clearly shownin Fig. l0 wherein the members lll' to iii" are arranged to provide a bundle of square cross'sseo'ton when folded, as shown in Fig. l1. it. is` also witrrin` the scope of this invention to rovi'de i'or packs having a triangular cross-seetion.

When it is desired to raise the front or rear walls `25, 251" for ventilation or otherwise, it is merely necessary to tug on the release cord 3i to tree the ends of the lacing 21 from the lower- `most openings 2d and 2S and then loop the free endsof the lacing under the bottom edge of the wall and carry said free ends through the pulleys Then by pulling on the free ends of the lacing, looped through the pulleys, the bottom edge of the wail will be rolled up as shown in Fig. 3'. The front and rear walls may be kept down,`par ti'ally down, or up, depending on the weather. After the wall israised, the free ends of the lacing may be secured to the strip 23.

lf desired, to provide for maximum shelter, the lacing openings 26 may be covered by means of swivel tabs 5i, as shown in Fig. 12, which may be pivotally secured to the wall 25, 25', as at 58, and rotated to cover the opening 26.

It is apparent that a tent has been provided which includes a, frame structure and a covering permanently attached thereto so that when the frame is set up, collapsed or folded, the covering is automatically taken care of,` requiring no separate handling. Also, it is apparent that the tent, including frame and covering, is substantially erected by almost a single stroke, that is, by a pull on the cords d0 and 4l. This feature coupled with the folding character of the collapsed tent, both in a longitudinal and transverse direction, provides for ready portability of the tent. Also, the storage space formed in the folded tent package affords a ready means to transport the tent flooring with the tent.

Although the tent illustrated is provided with hinged transverse ribs for arching, it .is within the scope of this invention to also utilize unitary flexible bars as the transverse ribs. These bars can be arched for erection due to their exibility. In this inodincation, however, the tent will not be folded transversely as with the hinged trans-` verse bars.

,with sides more nearly vertical. yaccomplished by thickening the center portions Voi' the transverse iiexible ribs to produce a flat- ,7 ....,Althoughthe tentillustrated has a, semi-cir- .cular cross-section, it is Within the purview o1' `this invention to provide for other shapes. For example, the tent can be. made flatter on top, This may be ter top portion when erected. Also, Where hinges are used, the angle of the stops I9 may be varied so that at the center of the transverse ribs, the

`rib members will lie atter when erected.

While the invention has been described in more or less detail, it is not to be limited thereby,

as changes may be made in the form, arrangeeach oi said ribs composed of a plurality of pervrnanently and hingedly-connected sections, the

Vhinge connections of the sections limiting pivotal movement thereof in one direction into substantial alignment and permitting pivotal movement in the other direction into folded relationship.

3. A collapsible tent frame comprising archshaped transverse ribs and hat longitudinal ribs connected to the ends of the transverse ribs, each of said ribs comprising a plurality of sections, and hinges connecting said sections with their ends in abutting relationship when the frame is set-up but leaving the sections free to swing about their hinges to collapse the frame.

4. A collapsible tent frame in the form of a rectangle when partly collapsed, each of the sides and ends of the frame composed of hingedlyconnected sections, and a rigid connection between the ends of the sections constituting the respective corners of the frame.

5. A collapsible tent frame in the form of aI rectangle when partly collapsed, each of the sides and ends of the frame composed of a plurality of sections, flap hinges connecting the sec- "tions of the ends of the frame in abutting relationship, and other nap hinges connecting the ends of the sections of the sides of the frame with the ends of the sections slightly spaced apart when the frame is in its partly collapsed condition.

6. A collapsible tent frame in the form of a yrectangle when partly collapsed, each of the ends of the frame composed of a central section 'and end sections hingedly-connected to the cenjtral section, each of the sides of the frame composed of a plurality of hingedly-connected Sec- `8 tions, the adjacent ends of the sides and ends or the frame being rigidly connected.

, '1. .A `collapsible tent frame in the form of a rectangle when partly collapsed, each of the kends of the frame composed of a central section and end sections hingedly-connected to the cen- .tral.secti0n, each of the sides of the frame composed of a series of hingedly-connected sections of gradually increasing length, and means rigidly connecting the adjacent ends of the sides and ends of the frame.

8. A collapsible tent frame in the form of a rectangle when partly collapsed, the sides of the frame composed of a plurality of slightly curved sections hingedly-connected together, the ends of the frame composed of a plurality of flat sections hingedly-connected together, and rigid connections between the adjacent ends of the ends and sides of the frame.

9. In a collapsible tent frame a foldable archshaped rib or bow comprising a plurality of hingedly-connected sections having their hinged ends in abutting relationship when the rib is in set-up condition.

10. A collapsible tent comprising a frame including arch-shaped transverse ribs and flat longitudinal ribs connected to the ends of the transverse ribs, each of said ribs composed or" a plurality of permanently and hingedly-connected sections, and tent material having its edges attached to said frame.

11. A collapsible tent frame formed of archshaped transverse ribs and at longitudinal ribs interconnecting the ends of the transverse ribs, each of said ribs composed of a plurality o1" sections, liap hinges connecting the adjacent ends o fthe section of each rib, the hinge connections oi the sections limiting pivotal movement of the sections in one direction into substantial alignment and permitting pivotal movement in the other direction into folded relationship, and releasable means connecting the longitudinal ribs.

12. A collapsible tent comprising a frame formed of arch-shaped transverse ribs and flat longitudinal ribs connected to the ends of the transverse ribs, each of said ribs composed of a pluralityv oi permanently and hingedly-connected sections, tent material having its edges attached to the frame, and releasable means connecting the longitudinal ribs.

PHILIP W. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

